Staff writer
The Linganore High School boys soccer team is stepping into the postseason on the right foot.
Defeating Walkersville 3-2 in Monday night’s regular season finale, the Lancers rebounded from a recent loss to Urbana while also clinching the Monocacy Valley Athletic League Piedmont Conference title.
“It was definitely something in the back of our minds we were thinking about,” Linganore senior Matt Freibaum said of the title.
Monday was quite a day for the Lancers. In the morning, they earned the No. 1 seed, as well as an opening round bye and home field advantage, in the Class 3A West regional playoffs. Around 8 p.m. they wrapped up the Piedmont. It was also senior night at Linganore, and every team member saw playing time.
Linganore fell to Urbana 3-0 in Saturday’s finals of the Frederick County Boys Soccer Showdown Tournament.
“We were looking to rebound from the Urbana game Saturday,” Lancers coach Josh Gilmore said. “We wanted to shake off that loss and Walkersville made it tough for us.”
Nick Butler put Linganore (12-2) ahead 1-0 in the 34th minute. The Lancers maintained their advantage until halftime.
Two minutes into the second half, Freibaum netted the match’s second score for a 2-0 Lancers advantage. Linganore would continue to press throughout the middle portion of the second half and went up 3-0 after Teddy Gula scored in the 24th minute.
“It definitely sparked our team,” Freibaum said of his score. “It made us realize we needed to pull this game out. We definitely needed it at the end because they scored two goals which shouldn’t have happened.”
Gula’s goal helped wake Walkersville (7-7) up. Knocking in a ball which ricocheted off the left post, Jameson Detweiler finally got the Lions on the board in the 56th minute.
The Lions continued to apply pressure well into stoppage time. With less than two minutes to go, Alex Detweiler snuck one into the Lancers net. It wasn’t enough as Linganore rode out the clock.
“The resiliency to keep coming at Linganore, who is literally one of the best teams in the county and the No. 1 seed in 3A, we’re pleased with that effort,” Walkersville coach Kevin Conley said.
Linganore outshoot Walkersville 19-9. The Lions attempted two corners, the Lancers one. Evan Raimist made nine stops for Walkersville while Joe Centeno recorded a save in earning the victory.
Freibaum, Gilmore and Conley all said they were thankful Monday’s match was against an worthy opponent and not a walkover. It was a suitable tune up before the playoffs.
tmcelwee@gazette.net